Expat Women February Home Page

Hi Everyone, February 1 falls over the weekend, so we have uploaded our February Home Page a little early. Please take a look:

Success Story
Susan Au Allen
USPAACC Education Foundation
In 1999, Susan was named one of 25 most influential Asians in America. In 2008, she was named as one of US’s top Diversity Advocates, among notables such as President William Clinton, President Jimmy Carter and Oprah Winfrey...
Read more…

Business Idea
Robina Oliver
Curvas Peligrosas
If you have ever prayed for a gorgeous bathing suit to wear by your hotel pool, then Robina Oliver is a woman who is answering prayers like yours. Robina’s dangerously curvy business in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, has become an instant hit amongst tourists and locals...
Read more…

Perfectionism
Is Perfectionism Condemning You To A Life Of Immaculate Mediocrity?
Margie Warrell
Do not get me wrong, I have no bone to pick with perfectionists; particularly not those who might find themselves operating on my heart, building my home or fixing my car’s brakes but...
Read more…

Freelancing
My-So Called Freelance Life
Michelle Goodman
Join experienced freelancer, Michelle Goodman, as she talks to us about what to do and what not to do in the world of freelancing (including tips for established freelancers)...
Read more…

Expat Teens
Youth Compass
Thomas Speckhardt
If you are looking for new ideas about how to give some positive direction to your global nomad teen, join us as we talk to Thomas Speckhardt, the Executive Director of Youth Compass – a community youth organisation led by volunteers and staff...
Read more…

ExpatWomen Confession
I Think I Am An Alcoholic
ExpatWomen Girlfriend
I live in Athens, Greece, and I think I am an alcoholic. I am spending more and more nights drinking. I find myself choosing unimportant evening social functions (through my job with the foreign service here) over getting home and spending time with my family...
Read more…

Not An Expat Women Member Yet?
Please sign up today, to make sure that you receive our February Members' newsletter next week. We would love to welcome you to our online community.

Thanks and best wishes for your weekend! Andrea.

Calling All Canadians

Hi Everyone, If you are a Canadian, especially if you are an adult TCK or you have children who one day will be adult TCKs (Third Culture Kids), Robin Pascoe has asked us to pass this urgent message on to you:

"Did you know that the new Canadian citizenship rules which go into effect April 17 state that:

"...children born in another country after the new law comes into effect will not be Canadian citizens by birth if they were born outside Canada to a Canadian parent who was also born outside Canada to a Canadian parent.”

To read more, and to take action, please visit my blog post today. Thanks!"

Seen 'The Mom Song'?

Hi Everyone, Someone sent me 'The Mom Song' today. If you're a mom/mum, and you have not seen it before, take a look - it's an opera song and it's fun.

Included below is the one sent to me, posted on You Tube last month.

I found another one on YouTube, posted one year ago, but the picture is not as clear, so I recommend watching the one below (or linked here, if you are reading this via email alert.)

Mothers, enjoy! Andrea

We Need Your Expat Stories

Hello Everyone, Please grab a bit of time this month to submit your stories of expat living.

ExpatWomen.com has received more than 200 story submissions since we launched two years ago, but for some reason, we do not have any stories yet this month. Has everyone been on holidays?

Great! Then you should have plenty of adventures to share. (Smile)

If you are not sure what we are looking for, take a read of some of the great stories we have from expat women like you already, or take a quick read of our story guidelines.

If you have already submitted a story, fabulous, you know how to do it, so please submit again.

We are still planning to use the best stories to turn into a book one day. So please, help us out, share your experiences... and maybe someday, your name and story will be in our book!

Thanks and best wishes, happy writing, Andrea.

Divorce Abroad

Hi Everyone, It is no surprise that expat divorce abroad is a hot topic. We get regular emails about this and we also see regular comments and articles on this topic elsewhere. Sad, but true.

If your relationship has not broken up abroad, chances are, you know someone's whose has. If you/they are looking for some recent information about divorce abroad, try some of these articles:

(1) Expat Confession: Divorce Abroad - this was one of the most-clicked-on features last October when it featured;

(2) Divorce Overseas: 10 Steps To Protect Your Children, by Frank Arndt, which is featured on our home page this month.

Marilyn Stowe has actually added some additional opinion to the bottom of this article since we first posted it, including:

"I also do not see why the employer who requires the move abroad, shouldn’t pay for such an agreement to be put in place, in the same way as the employment contract."

(3) We have also just published Divorce and You on our site, thanks to Divorce Coach Nicola Baume. Nicola's three-step article recovery article helps at home and abroad;

And/or try these articles that we saw on our Google Alert last week:

(4) Expat Divorce 'Simple' Says Leading Law Firm - Woolley & Co.; &

(5) Did Becoming A Shanghai Expat Ruin Your Marriage? - on Shanghaiist.com. If you are in Shanghai and have been through an expat break-up, Karen Mazurkewich is looking for you...

"Expats live in a parallel universe. While they are culturally fish-out-of-water they can also live glamorous lifestyles. And while it can be a great experience for some, there is also a dark side to expat life. I’d like to further explore the issue by asking the simple question: Can marriages survive the expat life?"

If you are going through a break-up abroad, we send our best wishes your way. Wishing you strength, Andrea.

Been To TravBuddy.com?

Hi Everyone, If you are an expat who enjoys looking at world maps and counting the number of places you have been to, or would like to go to, then take a look at TravBuddy.com.

We learned about it today, when approving one of the latest links on our Expat Women Blog Directory.

It's simple, but it's cool. Just sign up, then tick the places you have been to. It will then produce for you a map of the world, shading in the countries/areas that you have visited. It also tells you what percentage of the world you have been to - maybe to give you some incentive to travel more and see more. Smile.

You can also upload your end-results-map (in varying sizes) to your blog, FaceBook, MySpace account etc. Just a little fun...

Here are some official words about TravBuddy:

"TravBuddy is a site for people who love to explore the world around them. You can use TravBuddy to find travel buddies, record travel experiences in travel blogs, or share travel tips with travel reviews. You can register for free or take a tour to learn more about the site."

Good News For Expat Spouses In Malaysia

Hi Everyone, In the Permits Foundation newsletter this week, they announced that new regulations allow spouses to take paid employment in Malaysia:

"The Malaysian Immigration Department has published new regulations that allow spouses on a Dependent Pass to take paid employment after obtaining an endorsement in the passport by the Immigration Department. They no longer need their own Employment Pass or Visit Pass Temporary Employment.

A job offer is required and the employer needs to have approval from the relevant authority / agency (MIDA / MDEC / Central Bank of Malaysia / Securities Commission / Public Service Department of Malaysia).

At the same time, husbands of Employment Pass holders may now apply for a Dependant Pass. Previously, they were only eligible for a Long Term Social Visit Pass.

The application can be made in Malaysia and no fees are made for the endorsement to work, beyond the normal cost of a dependant's pass. The changes, which are effective 20 November 2008, are published at: http://www.imi.gov.my/eng/perkhidmatan/im_PegawaiDagang.asp#new"

Robin Pascoe's SE Asia Tour

Hi Everyone, If you are an expat woman in South East Asia, try and get along to one of Robin Pascoe's talks near you in February/March.

Robin Pascoe of the ExpatExpert.com is a well-known author and expert in expat family issues and has a lot of great knowledge, wisdom and wit to share.

She will be speaking in the following locations:

• Manila, The Philippines
• Jakarta, Indonesia
• Singapore
• Kuala Lumpur
• Bangkok, Thailand

Robin is being sponsored by Santa Fe Relocations, so we understand the presentations are fee-free (unless a small amount is charged by the club/association hosting it).

For more detailed information about the tour schedule, please visit Robin's blog here.

Thanks in advance - and best wishes Robin, Andrea.

FIGT Conference Speaker List

Hi Everyone, I have just read through the very impressive list of speakers at this year's upcoming Families in Global Transitions (FIGT) Conference and highly recommend that you take a look - either to convince you to attend, or to find some potentially great contacts for your business, especially if you work in one of the following fields or service one of the following clientele groups:

Relocation, TCKs (Third Culture Kids), Cross-Cultural Training, Coaching, Intercultural Studies, International Schools, Global Nomads, Personal Development, helping Military Families, Foreign Service Personnel, Linguistics, International Living and more.

There are 62 (!) speakers on the list - all of whom look like will add value to this year's conference in Houston, United States, March 5-7.

If you are planning to go to the conference, I'd love to meet you there. Just drop me a line. Thanks and best wishes, Andrea.

Happy Birthday ExpatWomen.com!

Hi Everyone, Yes, today we celebrate Expat Women's second birthday online. Thanks go out to every single one of you for your support thus far and thanks in advance for your ongoing support! Andrea

Expat Women January Newsletter

Hi Everyone, We have just finished sending out our Expat Women Members' Newsletter for January. If you are signed up and you did not receive the newsletter, please let us know here.

In addition to all of our January home page features, our newsletter showcases January's winning story, shares Rachel Farris' article Relocating Your Pet With The Right Vet and announces our monthly winner of the fabulous Explorer Publishing mini-guide pack.

Thanks and enjoy your day/evening! Andrea

Permits Foundation Global Survey Results

Hi Everyone, Breaking news... The summary report of the Permit Foundation's global survey last October is now available here.

"This survey examined the views of 3300 expatriate spouses and partners of 122 nationalities, currently accompanying international employees working in 117 host countries for over 200 employers in both the private and public sector.

It provides evidence that a lack of spouse or partner employment opportunities adversely affects global mobility of highly skilled international employees.

A few focused and simple improvements on the part of employers and governments can make a triple win for families, employers and the countries in which they work."

Very interesting reading - and definitely something you will need if you are formally presenting on topics in this arena. Happy reading!

Cross-Cultural Blunders

Hello Everyone, We came across a great article today entitled Results of Poor Cross-Cultural Awareness, written (in 2005) by Neil Payne at Kwintessential Cross-Cultural Solutions, which gives more than a dozen amusing examples of cross-cultural blunders.

Take a quick read... you might find something in it to use in one of your presentations one day, or something to laugh about in your general expat conversations, or at the very least, something to make you feel that your own cross-cultural mistakes have not been so bad after all!

International Mothers In Switzerland

Hi Everyone, If you are a mother in Switzerland and you have not yet discovered the non-profit online community Mamizeit, take a look and see if you like it. Mamizeit is a beautiful-looking site, run by Anne and Therese, that is looking for stories or childcare experiences from expat mothers in Switzerland. Help if you can.

If you are a member of an expat club or association, anywhere in the world, and we do not yet have a link to your expat club or association on our Expat Women country pages, please send us the link here and we will happily try to add the link to ExpatWomen.com. Many thanks.

Australian Expats & Repats

Hi Everyone, If you are an Australian living abroad (or recently returned home) and you have not heard of Advance, you might like to take a minute to check out their site.

It was not until Advance invited me (thanks to Sue Ellson of the Newcomers Network) to an event last month that I learnt about Advance - and I am impressed by their 11,000 (!) members, global reach and extensive industry networks.

By the way, I see on the Advance home page that a link to the Australian Woman of the Year in the UK Award, sponsored by Qantas. The inaugural winner of the award in 2008 was Glenda Stone (congratulations Glenda) who we interviewed as an Expat Women Success Story in 2007. I met Glenda at the event last month and she is lovely. If you are an Australian and would like to be in the running for 2009's award, visit the link above and good luck!

Can You Help PassportCareer.com?

Hi Everyone, A big thanks to all of the expats who have been helping Susan Musich with research for the launch of PassportCareer.com. Susan is looking for more researchers, so if you or anyone you know can help, please contact Susan directly for more information. Thanks.

Disclaimer: PassportCareer.com has agreed to provide a small donation to ExpatWomen.com for every researcher found through us, who completes an assignment for Susan. Every little bit helps!

New Locations For Which Susan Requires Expat Researchers

• Algeria
• Colombia
• El Salvador
• Egypt
• Macedonia
• Morocco
• Mozambique
• Nicaragua
• Serbia
• Tunisia
• Uruguay
• Zambia

Old Locations For Which Susan Still Requires Expat Researchers

• China (Guangzhou, Nanjing, Tianjin, Shenzhen, Yangshou, Xiamen, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shenyang and Xian)
• Equatorial Guinea
• Finland
• Germany (super urgent!)
• India (Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore positions)
• Ireland
• New Zealand
• Poland
• Thailand (Bangkok-based)
• United States (nearly all major US cities, except Seattle, Minneapolis, Austin, Houston, Los Angeles, Boston and San Francisco)

Background

In case you have missed our previous blog posts, PassportCareer is looking for researchers to undertake a 20-25 hour research assignment, focussed on their current expat location, in return for a small honorarium per assignment. (Note: If multiple major cities are involved, the hours and honorium usually increase accordingly.)

Susan is looking for expatriates (male or female) in any of the locations listed above, who have been there for six months or more, and can commit to finishing the assignment if offered. Susan has been working in this arena for 18 years and is starting PassportCareer as on online job search support system for international professionals – primarily spouses/partners who accompany expats.

"The research includes using the country profile survey (and template) that will be provided to identify appropriate job search information relevant to expatriates who will be moving to your current country. Such information includes: web sites; business cultural information; social and business networks; resume and interview information relevant to the country in question; and other related job search material."

Winning Story: I'm Dating A Male Supermodel

Hi Everyone, Congratulations go out this month to Robin (an American in Qatar) who has again won our winning story of the month!

Robin's win this time was for her contribution I'm Dating A Male Supermodel.

Her previous win was for her first instalment of Tales of a Single Woman in the Middle East.

To read more of our Expat Women stories - and to help us out by submitting a story of your own - please visit this page. Your contributions really do make a difference.

Many thanks in advance, Andrea.

What's Your Passion?

Hi Everyone, we received an email today from Margie Warrell, an impressive Coach, Speaker and Author who would like to contribute to Expat Women.

Whilst reading Margie's site, we found a truly inspiring YouTube video about a guy named Paul Potts from Cardiff in the UK. If you have not seen it before, take 4 minutes out of your busy day to watch this. Paul is starting to take more risks to follow his passion. Are you...?

Expat Women - January 2009 Home Page

Happy New Year Everyone!

We hope you are enjoying (or have enjoyed) some wonderful new year's eve festivities, as we upload our January Home Page:

Success Story
Graziella Zanoletti
CIO (Chief Inspiring Officer) & Founder, Elite Rent-a-Car
Founder & President, Friends of Humanity
Italian-born Graziella Zanoletti started her luxury car hire and chauffeur service company Elite Rent-a-Car in 1987 and has built it today to a €20 million business, spanning seven countries, with sales representatives in five additional countries…

Expat Divorce
Divorce Overseas: 10 Steps To Protect Your Children
Frank Arndt
If your marriage breaks down, the prospects can be daunting if you are “stuck” in a foreign country, without a strong grasp of the language or knowledge of local culture...

Virtual Work Abroad
Working Virtually: A Great Way To Earn Additional Income
Jean Stone, Jobs Online
Are you an expat living abroad who is frustrated with visa restrictions and trying to think creatively about how to generate both satisfying work and income? Then think virtually: working from home gives individuals a chance to earn extra income by performing a variety of tasks...

Bilingual Kids
Raising A Bilingual Child
Barbara Zurer Pearson
Barbara, who has more than twenty years of research experience in the fields of bilingualism and linguistics, shares with us some of the insights from her step-by-step guide for parents who want their young children to become bilingual…

Business Idea
Amy Maguire
Family Manx Magazine
We talk to Amy Maguire, an American-British mother and music teacher who has transformed herself into a successful publisher of a family magazine that not only distributes 9,000 copies across the Isle of Man, but also pays her an income abroad…

Expat Confession
Why Should I Move?
ExpatWomen Girlfriend
My husband has just been offered a one-year assignment abroad and I am thinking about whether or not to quit my job and move away from my ill mother to join him. I have no aspirations to live abroad, I am really very content and happy with my life here, and I feel duty bound to be here for my mother. I have thought about living apart...

Not An Expat Women Member Yet?
Please sign up today, to make sure that you receive our January Members' newsletter (only being sent mid-month this time, while we wait for everyone to return from their holidays). We would love to welcome you to our online community.

Wishing you a 2009 that exceeds your expectations,

Warmest regards, Andrea.

PS. If you missed our Expat Women Best of 2008 Newsletter last week, just Click Here.

Wanted: Expats in India or China, from Denmark, Germany, Finland or the UK

Hi Everyone, An interesting request today from Nicol Foulkes, the lead researcher on this project (and working on her PhD) at the University of Tampere and the University of Lapland. The work is for the project run by the Academy of Finland, Future of Work and Wellbeing 2008-2001.

Basically, Nicol is looking for survey respondents in each of the following specific categories. If you can help, please do. She estimates each survey takes approximately 15 minutes. For questions, please email Nicol directly. Thanks.

**

My company (which is Danish, German, Finnish or British) would like to share information on its expatriation process for employees in the emerging economies of India and/or China.
Click Here

My/my partner's job (in Denmark, Germany, Finland or the UK) has taken me/us to India.
Click Here

My/my partner's job (in Denmark, Germany, Finland or the UK) has taken me/us to China.
Click Here

In the past, I have spent a period in India or China in relation to my/my partner's job. (The sending company was based in Denmark, Germany, Finland or the UK).
Click Here (This one takes approximately 30 minutes)

Final 2008 Update On The Need For Short-Term Researchers For PassportCareer.com

Hi Everyone, Please find below the revised list of locations still needing short-term researchers for the upcoming database for PassportCareer.com.

In case you have missed our previous blog posts, Passport Career is looking for researchers to undertake a 20-25 hour research assignment, in return for a small honorarium per assignment.

If you are currently an expatriate (male or female) in any of the locations listed below (and have been there for six months or more), and you are potentially interested in one of these assignments (and can commit to a January 15 completion date), please urgently contact Susan Musich for more information.

Susan has been working in this arena for 18 years and is starting her online job search support system for international professionals – primarily spouses/partners who accompany expats.

"The research includes using the country profile survey (and template) that will be provided to identify appropriate job search information relevant to expatriates who will be moving to your current country. Such information includes: web sites; business cultural information; social and business networks; resume and interview information relevant to the country in question; and other related job search material."

Disclaimer: Susan has agreed to make a small donation to ExpatWomen.com for each researcher who completes an assignment via an ExpatWomen.com lead. Every little bit helps. Thanks Everyone! :-)

Locations:

China -- Guangzhou
China -- Shenzhen
China -- Nanjing, Jiangsu Province
China -- Wuhan/Hubei Province
China -- Tianjin
China -- Dalian/Liaoning Province
China -- Xiamen
Costa Rica
Equatorial Guinea
Finland
India -- Mumbai
India -- Chennai
India -- Bangalore
Norway
Qatar
Romania
South Africa -- Cape Town
South Africa -- Pretoria/Johannesburg
Spain -- Madrid/Barcelona
Sweden
Taiwan
Thailand -- Bangkok
USA -
· Atlanta
· Boston
· Charlotte
· Chicago
· Cincinnati
· Dallas
· Denver
· Detroit
· Fort Worth
· Los Angeles
· Miami
· New York City
· Philadelphia
· Phoenix
· Pittsburgh
· Sacramento
· San Antonio
· San Francisco
· San Jose
· St Louis
· Washington, DC
· Any other US cities with large expat populations

Got Time To Share Your Expat Story Or City Experience?

Hi Everyone, If you are on holidays now and/or able to make some time, we would love you to support us this holiday season by sharing your expat story or city experience.

The stories and experiences you submit do help other expat women and we are always looking for more contributors.

Many thanks in advance, Andrea.

Want To Win A £1000 Amazon.com voucher?

Hi Everyone, If you would like to be in the running to win a £1000 Amazon.com voucher from HSBC Bank International, all you have to do is tell HSBC how the way you celebrate Christmas (they are assuming of course that you celebrate Christmas) has changed since moving abroad.

Click here for full details, terms and conditions. The prize draw closes on Monday 26 January 2009 and the lucky winner will be randomly chosen on Friday 30 January 2009.


Important notes (from the terms and conditions):

"This prize draw is not open to residents of Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, South Korea, Turkey and the United States of America, or any country where it is prohibited or otherwise unlawful to enter the draw or for the draw to be held."

"The promoter is HSBC Bank International Limited, HSBC House, Esplanade, St Helier, Jersey JE1 1HS, Channel Islands."

Seeking Entries - Re:locate Awards 2008/9

Hi Everyone, Re:locate (UK) would like to invite you to enter their 2008/9 awards, which they hope will pay tribute to inspirational talent from across the relocation spectrum, with seven categories that between them recognise individuals, teams, policy and innovation. Both HR and service providers are warmly invited to enter. The closing date for entries is 16 February 2009.

Award categories:

• Best relocation strategy/policy
• Technical innovation in relocation
• Inspirational HR team of the year
• Relocation service provider or team of the year – categories for large, small and specialist providers
• Best property provider or solution
• Rising star in relocation
• Relocation personality of the year

The judging process will culminate in a gala dinner, to be held on 7 May 2009 at the Institute of Directors, in London’s Pall Mall.

For more information, please visit the Re:locate website or contact Fiona Murchie (Managing Editor) and the awards team via email or phone (01892 891334). Thanks.

Oman Conference: Dates Have Changed

Hi Everyone, The organisers would like to let you know that the dates have changed for the upcoming International Mobility and Relocation Conference (IMRC 2009) in Muscat, Oman.

Old dates: 18-19 January 2009

New dates: 19-20 April 2009

Thanks.

E-Zine Articles: New Travel Categories

Hi Everyone, Many of you may already know that one of the most commonly quoted sites for submitting articles that you have written, in the hope that other sites/blogs/people will link to you and/or quote you, is EZineArticles.com.

However one of the barriers with submission (and getting noticed) on this site has often been the absence of the exact category that you need. One example of this is that there is no specific category for "Expatriates", "Living Overseas", "International Living" or similar. In the past, I have written to them to suggest establishing this new category. Feel free to do the same here. :-)

Anyway, good news this week is their addition of two new travel sub-categories that might help some of you:

Adventure Travel
Articles about/concerning Adventure Travel, Whitewater Rafting, Blackwater Rafting, Rock-River Tubing, Mountain Hiking, African Safari’s, Wildlife Touring, Polar Expeditions, Travel Accommodations.

City Guides and Information
Articles about/concerning City Guides and Information Centers, Online Guides, City Information, Travel Guides, Expert Recommendation.

If you know of any better article submission sites, feel free to share them via a comment on this blog (or via email) for us all to learn.

Best wishes, Andrea.

Do You Know Of Any Best-Practice Repatriation Management?

Hi Everyone, I am urgently searching for best-practice companies or governments who do a really good job of managing expatriates when they return 'home'. If you know any examples of superior repatriate management, please contact me urgently.

Many thanks, Andrea.

Mobility Online - December Issue

Hi Everyone, This month's Mobility Online includes a very interesting speech from the retiring CEO, H. Cris Collie, which was delivered at the closing general session of the recent 2008 Worldwide ERC® Global Workforce Symposium in Washington, DC. If you work in the relocation services industry, you might like to take a quick read.

To see what else is in this month's issue, just click here. Enjoy!

3 Questions To Ask Yourself For 2009

Hi Everyone, One of our Expat Women Mentors in 2007 (when we had our mentor program running), Gayle Scroggs of Essence Coaching, sent out a great e-letter recently that focussed on 3 key questions (that we really liked) to ask yourself as you go into 2009:

(1) What brings you and yours pleasure?

(2) What are your inner gifts?

(3) What gives your life meaning?

Good luck in your planning and resolutions for 2009!

Bookshaker Seeking Authors & Editors

Hi Everyone, A quick shout-out for Debbie Jenkins at Bookshaker, an Expat Women Success Story last year (read the interview here) who is looking for authors and editors to expand the Bookshaker brand...

"Authors
Are you an expat with a story to tell?
Are you an expert in business or making money?
Are you an expert in sales or marketing?
Do you know a thing or two about investing or property?
Do you have a unique and powerful communication or self improvement model?

If you are any of these and want to write a book, we can help.
Get in touch with us here.

Editors
We are also looking for editors who would like to earn up to 20% royalties from lifetime sales of each book they work on. We are looking to build an elite team of reliable editors to work on approximately 60 books each year.

If you want to know more, please get in touch with us today."

So if you are an expat woman who needs more than coffee, talk to Debbie at Bookshaker... you never know unless you give it a go...

Have You Lost Your Job Recently?

Hi Everyone, There have been a lot of jobs lost lately, all across the globe. If you have been affected, expat job or not, you might find some value in Adrienne Graham's excellent Empowered Career Woman blog post: The 1st 30 Days - Survival Mode.

Adrienne, a very experienced recruiter and networker, elaborates on 10 very useful tips for getting through that tough first month and finding light at the end of the tunnel. Take a read, or maybe send the link to someone who might appreciate it. Best wishes, Andrea.

Australians Abroad: Win 2 Flights Home

Hi Everyone, If you an Australian abroad, you might like to enter a competition being run by Advance: a dynamic and diverse community of Australians overseas, with more than 11,000 members, extensive industry networks and strong relationships with global business, government and academia.

First prize is two flights back to Australia, courtesy of FCm Travel Solutions. Second prize is a case of wine for each of the following regions: Asia; UK; Europe & the Middle East; and Australia.

Good luck and may an Expat Woman win! :-)

HSBC Expat Survey- Part 3 of 3

Hi Everyone, Just released is the third and final instalment of the HSBC survey conducted this year which surveyed 2,155 expats across four continents:

Part 3: Expat Experience (or downloadable PDF version)

• Making friends with the locals
• Joining a local community group
• Learning the local language
• Buying property and setting up a new business
• Having children and marrying into the local population
• Changed citizenship
• The age factor

...and if you missed the first two instalments...

Part 2: Offshore Offspring (or downloadable PDF version)

• The cost of raising children abroad
• Travel abroad for more active children
• The cultural advantage
• Languages
• Expectation to remain
• Healthy children

Part 1: Expat Existence (or downloadable PDF version)

• Standard of accommodation
• Popular destinations
• Earn and save
• Luxurious lifestyle

Warmest regards, Andrea.

Manpower Employment Outlook Survey: Quarter One 2009

Hi Everyone, We've mentioned some Manpower Employment data on this blog before. Here is another interesting instalment, especially for expats or wanna-be expats:

"The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey of global hiring trends released [yesterday]... shows that the most favorable first-quarter hiring plans globally are reported by employers in Peru, India, Costa Rica, Canada, Romania, Colombia, South Africa, Australia, Poland, the United States and China.

Conversely, employers in Singapore, Spain, Ireland and Italy are reporting the weakest hiring expectations for the quarter ahead. Read more in the press release.

The quarterly report from Manpower Inc. (NYSE:MAN) is the most extensive, forward-looking employment survey in the world, gathering data from over 71,000 employers across the globe each quarter. To view full survey results for each of the 33 countries and territories included in the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, plus regional and global comparisons, visit the Manpower Inc. site."

Best wishes for your day/evening!

Good News for United States Travellers

Hello again Everyone, Janette Stennart (Esquire, Attorney and Counselor at Law) sent us a link to her article Good News for US Travellers, that might interest anyone travelling into the US.

"Expat Women may appreciate being reminded that in [just over four] weeks, the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) will be required of all US Visa Waiver Program (VWP) citizens and nationals for travel to the US, under the program. This becomes effective 12 January 2009. Also, US citizens and US lawful permanent residents have expedited clearance under GOES."

We don't normally delve into visa issues on this blog, but made an exception in the hope that the information might be valuable to a number of you. Thanks.

Have You Heard Of Alltop?

Hi Everyone, We learnt today through Megan Fitzgerald of Career By Choice about Alltop: an "online magazine rack of popular topics", updated hourly. Pick a topic by searching, news category, or name, and they promise to deliver it to you 24 x 7.

Alltop has lots of categories (including one especially for Expats). They aggregate new blog /website entries via RSS feed, for all of the blogs/sites they have registered in that category. Just click at the top of almost any of their pages for their tutorial video.

Megan's blog is in it. Our Expat Women blog is in it (what a nice surprise!). And I recognise quite a number of blogs from our Expat Women Blog Directory there too - so your blog might even be there without you even knowing about it! :-)

If you have a blog/site that you would like included, Alltop says:

Please send us an email, and we’ll consider them. Please note: if your favorite sites don’t provide an RSS feed, we cannot import their stories. And please, tell us what topic you hope to see them in.

Enjoy!

Expat Women December Newsletter

Hi Everyone, We have just finished sending out our Expat Women Members' Newsletter for December. If you are signed up and you did not receive the newsletter, please let us know here.

In addition to all of our December home page features, our newsletter showcases December's winning story, shares an article about how much life insurance you need and announces our monthly winner of the fabulous Explorer Publishing mini-guide pack.

Thanks and enjoy your day/evening! Andrea

Global HR News: Discount on Upcoming Europe-Based Conferences

Hi Everyone, Ed Cohen, President of Global HR News, is inviting all Expat Women members to register for any of his upcoming Europe-based conferences for only 199 Euros (which represents an approximate 50%-66% discount on the standard early-bird fees, depending on which conference you are interested in). I took a look at some of the speaker line-ups and they look excellent...

London (UK)
Global HR Conference
9 December 2008

Paris (France)
Global HR Conference
11-12 December 2008

Köln (Germany)
Dinner, Education, Social
16-17 April 2009

Zurich (Switzerland)
Dinner, Education
20-21 April 2009

London (UK)
Global HR Conference
8 December 2009

Paris (France)
Global HR Conference
10-11 December 2009

To take advantage of Ed's offer, please contact him directly. Thanks.

Expat Women December Home Page

Hello Everyone, Please take a look at our December Home Page. If you like something, please tell your friends. Thanks in advance!

Success Story
Pamela Skuse
Misión México Foundation
When Pamela and husband Alan left their safe haven of home to volunteer at an orphanage in México for twelve months, never did they realise that eight years on, they would be running the orphanage and helping hundreds of México’s poorest children…

Business Idea
Caroline Garrett
Owner: Spice Marketing & PR
President: Company Women
When Caroline Garrett moved to Spain four years ago, she had no guarantee that her freelance marketing and public relations business would survive and she had no idea that she would become the president of a networking group for 500 international women in Spain…

Running Away
The Grown-Up’s Guide To Running Away From Home
Rosanne Knorr
Tired of your current life and looking for a way to escape for a while? Then join us as we talk to Rosanne Knorr about her escape manual: The Grown-Up's Guide to Running Away From Home...

Expat Confession
I Need More Than Coffee
I cannot believe how lost and dissatisfied I feel. I genuinely thought I would get enough stimulation from my surroundings, supplemented by the local expat club activities. However, I need more than coffee…

Flying With Kids
Flying With Children: Tips From An Airline Insider
Sharon, an American expat mother in France and a former flight attendant for two carriers in five countries over thirteen years, shares with us her insider tips and advice for flying with children…

Repatriating?
Six Ingredients For Successful Repatriation
Rebecca Wells
Coming back home can bring mixed feelings. Although some people relish the idea of seeing family, old colleagues and familiar places again, others find the notion extremely deflating…

Not An Expat Women Member Yet?
Please sign up today, to make sure that you receive our December Members' newsletter this week. We would love to welcome you to our online community.

Thank you very much and wishing you a sensational December!

Seeking Expats in the United States for Short-Term Research Project

Hi Everyone, Following on from our recent blog posts looking for expats to help with research assignments (small honorariums apply) on behalf of someone who is creating an online job search support system for international professionals, primarily expat spouses/partners...

Expats are now needed for the following cities in the US:

• Atlanta
• Boston
• Charlotte
• Chicago
• Cincinnati
• Dallas
• Denver
• Detroit
• Fort Worth
• Houston
• Los Angeles
• Miami
• Minneapolis
• New York City
• Philadelphia
• Phoenix
• Pittsburgh
• Raleigh
• Sacramento
• San Antonio
• San Francisco
• San Jose
• Seattle
• St Louis
• Washington, DC
• Any other major US city, if the researcher has a strong knowledge of job sources/networks in their city

If you are willing to help and you have been an expat in one of the cities above for at least six months, you have a good understanding of how an expat might find work in your location, and you can commit to completing the approx. 15-20 hour project (yes, these are shorter projects than the 20-25 hour ones for previous locations requested), please urgently get in touch with us (and tell us your city) for more information. Thanks.

Note: In this first wave of US cities, the research director prefers current expatriates rather than repatriates, as expats 'see' things from a different perspective. Thanks and enjoy your weekend!

New Conference in Oman, January 2009

Hi Everyone, It's official, the International Relocation and Mobility Conference (IRMC): Strategies for Successful International Living is going ahead in Muscat, Oman: January 18-19, 2009.

"IMRC will bring together professionals from around the world to discuss the impact of global relocations on internationally mobile families. Experts will address such topics as education and youth issues, Third Culture Kids, adjustments and resiliency in children, mental health issues for families, employment and identity issues for spouses and caregivers, and the role of schools, counselors, educators, and human resource professionals in meeting this need."

Speakers include: Rebecca Grappo; Jo Parfitt; Robin Pascoe; Jane Bickmore-Jaffer; Dr. Shama Rasheed; Ann Houston Kelly; and Susan Bagyura.

If you have been looking for an excuse to explore Oman and that fascinating part of the world, check out the conference website today. Early bird registration is OMR 153 (or around US$400).

If you cannot go, but know someone else who might be interested, please help the organisers to spread news of this exciting new conference. Thanks.

Update On Need For Short-Term Researchers

Hi Everyone, Just a quick update on last week's blog post urgently seeking short-term researchers on behalf of someone who is creating an online job search support system for international professionals – primarily expat spouses/partners.

Here is an update on the locations that still need researchers (the most urgent ones in red) for the 20-25+ hour research assignment (small honorarium applies):

• Angola
• China-Guangzhou, Guangdong Province
• China-Nanjing, Jiangsu Province
• China-Tianjin
• China-Shenzhen, Guangdong Province
• China-Xiamen, Fujian Province
• China-Chongqing
• China-Shenyang
• China-Xian
• Equatorial Guinea
• Finland
• France (someone based in Paris) (new listing)
• India-Mumbai
• India-Chennai
• India-Bangalore
• Spain (someone based in Madrid or Barcelona) (new listing)
• South Africa (new listing)
• Taiwan
• Thailand (someone based in Bangkok)

"The research includes using the country profile survey (and template) that will be provided to identify appropriate job search information relevant to expatriates who will be moving to your current country. Such information includes: web sites; business cultural information; social and business networks; resume and interview information relevant to the country in question; and other related job search material."

So, if you are willing to help and you have been an expat in your location for at least six months, you have a good understanding of how an expat might find work in your location, and you can commit to a December 15 deadline (this can be extended a little, if requested upfront), please urgently get in touch with us (and mention the location that you are interested in) for more information.

Thanks and best wishes for your weekend!

FIGT Executive Director Vacancy

Hi Everyone, Know anyone who might be interested in the part-time Executive Director role (replacing the much-loved Joyce Blake after the upcoming FIGT Conference) to start around April 2009?

"Families in Global Transition, Inc. (FIGT), based in the United States, seeks a part-time Executive Director with a desire to work for a leading edge non-profit educational organization with an international, national, and local presence. The position requires a creative, innovative and entrepreneurial approach to developing global partnerships, enhancing the strong profile of FIGT, and directing the organization's fundraising and marketing efforts.

Reporting to the FIGT Board of Directors, the Executive Director has responsibility for overall strategic leadership of the day to day management of FIGT, associate programs and services, website development and maintenance, and conference planning.

Compensation will be commensurate with applicant qualifications. Resumes will be accepted until 15 Dec 2008. For a Position Description and list of preferred Qualifications, please contact Sandy Thomas. Thanks."

Goodbye Norma McCaig - Founder Of The Term 'Global Nomad'

Hi Everyone, Some very sad news: Norma McCaig, who coined the term 'global nomad' in 1984 and tirelessly raised awareness of TCKs (Third Culture Kids), passed away last week in her home in Reston, Virginia, US, due to complications from cancer.

Norma once said: "Global nomads are very good mediators. Whenever TCKs move into another culture, they become very good, objective observers. They’re like cultural sponges. Those skills translate into ideal requirements for combating racism and advancing social and refugee work."
Source: Brice at tckid

"Norma's ground-breaking work in this field, which she began in the 1980s, inspired so many of us. She will be missed not only by those lucky enough to have known and worked with her, though, but also by thousands of children who grew up as global nomads never knowing that it was Norma who had given words and a voice to their unique lives."
Source: Robin Pascoe, The Expat Expert, ExpatExpertBlog

"Now, with three major pioneers of this field gone…Ruth Hill Useem, Dave Pollock, and Norma J McCaig…the greatest honor for them all is that each of you in the ‘next generation” build on their gift to us all and continue to see how to take lessons learned and help find ways to bring new understanding of how our global changes affect children everywhere and of all backgrounds."
Source: Ruth van Reken, co-author of Third Culture Kids, on tckid

The Stevie Awards 2008 & 2009

Hi Everyone, Congratulations go out this week to the winners (announced last Friday at a special ceremony in New York) and finalists of the 2008 Stevie Awards.

"The Stevie Awards were created to honor and generate public recognition of the achievements and positive contributions of organizations and business people worldwide. Beginning with The American Business Awards in 2002, The International Business Awards in 2003, The Stevie Awards for Women in Business in 2004, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service in 2006, our mission is to raise the profile of exemplary organizations and individuals among the press, the business community, and the general public. In short order the Stevie has become one of the world's most coveted awards. All women entrepreneurs and executives worldwide are eligible to participate in the awards."

Request your Entry Kit for the 2009 awards - it will be sent to you by email in May 2009. Any number of entries may be submitted to any number of the 50 categories. The same entry may be submitted to multiple categories.

So go on, get inspired, check out this year's winners and request a kit for yourself for next year!

Expat ROI

Hello again, Just a quick link to an interesting article about Expat ROI (return on investment) on Human Resource Executive Online...

"So what exactly is your company's return on investment after sending an employee on an international assignment? (Don't worry; most other companies don't know the answer, either.)

After paying for flights, housing or schools, HR executives are all too familiar with shelling out big dollars for employees on international assignments, but calculating the return on that investment can be extremely illusive.

Only 3 percent of companies are able to track ROI for international placements, according to the International Assignments Survey 2008, a new analysis of more than 200 multinational firms by New York-based consultancy Mercer."

Click Here to read more.

Living in Australia? Online Divas & Mexico Films

Hello Everyone, If you are living in Australia, you might like to check out the following upcoming events that promise to be lots of fun:

Online Divas
If you have been looking for an online and offline networking group that brings young entrepreneurial women together, who all share a common vision - running an online business and working in the online world - Online Divas might just be your answer.

Upcoming Events:
Sydney: 25 November 2008
Melbourne: 17 February 2009
Brisbane: 19 May 2009

Hola Mexico Film Festival
If you are interested in movies from Mexico, plus supporting a great cause (Mision Mexico, which will soon be featured on Expat Women), take a look at this year's program, which can be seen in:

Sydney: 25 November - 7 December
Adelaide: 3 - 7 December
Brisbane: 9 - 14 December
Canberra: 11 - 14 December
Melbourne: 15 - 21 December

Anyone willing to volunteer at the events to sell Mision Mexico Christmas cards, please contact Deborah. Thanks, Andrea.

Got Time This Weekend?

Hi Everyone, If you have time this weekend to write a story for our Expat Women Stories section or give some advice in our City Experiences section, we would truly appreciate your help.

These sections are read every month by women who are typically hungry to hear what experienced expats like yourselves have to say.

Thanks so much to anyone who can help! Andrea.

Movie: Revolutionary Road

Hi Everyone, Have you heard about the upcoming movie Revolutionary Road, directed by Sam Mendes and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet?

We received an email from their promoters asking us to give it a mention, presumably because of the dilemma of moving abroad and keeping your relationship together etc. (...or maybe they were just being creative in who they were targeting, smile).

Anyway, we watched the trailer: it looks good. Whilst it's not an 'expat' movie, it might strike a chord with some of you - especially those who have encountered resistance to moving abroad - or struggles in their own relationship. Here is the official storyline:

"Adapted from the revealing novel by Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road is an incisive portrait of an American marriage seen through the eyes of Frank (DiCaprio) and April (Winslet) Wheeler. Yates' story of 1950's America poses a question that has been reverberating through modern relationships ever since: can two people break away from the ordinary without breaking apart?

Frank and April have always seen themselves as special, different, ready and willing to live their lives based on higher ideals. So, as soon as they move into their new house on Revolutionary Road, they proudly declare their independence from the suburban inertia that surrounds them and determine never to be trapped by the social confines of their era.

Yet for all of their charm, beauty and irreverence, the Wheelers find themselves becoming exactly what they didn't expect: a good man with a meaningless job whose nerve has gone missing; a less-than-happy homemaker starving for fulfillment and passion; an American family with lost dream, like any other.

Driven to change their fates, April hatches an audacious plan to start all over again, to leave the comforts of Connecticut behind for the great unknown of Paris. But when the plan is put in motion, each spouse is pushed to extremes - one to escape whatever the cost, the other to save all that they have, no matter the compromises."

You watch the trailer here. Have a wonderful weekend!

Urgent: Short-Term Researchers Needed

Hi Everyone, If you are currently an expatriate (male or female) in any of the locations listed below, and you are interested in undertaking a 20-25 hour expat research assignment in return for a small honorarium, please get in touch with us urgently for more information.

The research is for an upcoming website created by someone who has been working in this arena for 18 years and wants to start an online job search support system for international professionals – primarily spouses/partners who accompany expats.

"The research includes using the country profile survey (and template) that will be provided to identify appropriate job search information relevant to expatriates who will be moving to your current country. Such information includes: web sites; business cultural information; social and business networks; resume and interview information relevant to the country in question; and other related job search material."

Thanks in advance for considering this request. Who knows… maybe the knowledge that you might gain during this project might provide you with a stepping stone to other things...

List Of Locations Needing Researchers:

• Angola
• Argentina
• Brazil
• China-Guangzhou, Guangdong Province
• China-Nanjing, Jiangsu Province
• China-Tianjin
• China-Dalian, Liaoning Province
• China-Shenzhen, Guangdong Province
• China-Xiamen, Fujian Province
• China-Chengdu
• China-Chongqing
• China-Shenyang
• China-Xian
• Equatorial Guinea
• Finland
• Greece
• Hungary
• India-Mumbai
• India-Chennai
• India-Bangalore
• Malaysia
• Mexico City
• Norway
• The Philippines
• Poland
• Singapore
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Vietnam

If you are interested, and able to commit to completing the research by December 15, please contact us for details as soon as possible. Thank you.

Note: Please see updated post one week later on this topic. Thanks.